As part of our continuing series exposing myths within recruitment.
What do employers really care about?
Is my notice period too long?
Professionals are increasingly put on longer notice periods as firms realise just how hard it is to find good people. Some of you might worry that your long notice period would be off putting to a future employer when they are desperate for help and need someone who can start ‘yesterday’.
In truth, the normal notice period within the legal profession for fee earners is 3 months. This is the norm. One month or 8 weeks is rare but sometimes encountered. We have worked with people on 6 months’ notice which has not impacted on their ability to secure a new role and the longest I have ever encountered is a staggering 12 months for a partner (I would not want to be working that one out!).
Sometimes firms will put people on garden leave if they no longer want them working in the office, or wish to pay for them to ‘lie fallow’ and lose their contacts. Most often firms will continue to have people work out their notice periods, handing over files and wrapping up. Sometimes firms will let people go early, reducing the notice period because they are not busy or the firm just wants to move on quickly to the next stage/reduce their staff spend.
No firm I know has ever not interviewed an individual based on their notice period being too long. If they want you to join them, they are prepared to wait!
Is my notice period too long for other firms to consider me? No, unless your notice period is over 12 months!
